Encouraging Words

Encouraging Words for Your Practice
someday you will die

lying on your sick bed 

about to breathe your last 

you will be assailed by every kind of pain 

your mind will be filled 

with fears and anxieties 

and you will not know 

what to do or where to go 

only then will you realize 

that you have not practised well 

the skandhas/aggregates (matter, sensations, conceptions, impulses and consciousness)

and the four elements in you 

will quickly disentegrate 
and your consciousness will be pulled wherever your ancient, twisted karma leads it 

impermanence does not hesitate 

death will not wait 

you will not be able to extend your life by even a second 

how many thousands more times 

will you have to pass through the gates of birth and death 

if these words are challenging 

even insulting 

let them be an encouragement 

for you to change 

practice heroically 

do not accumulate unnecessary possessions don’t give up 

still your mind 

end wrong perceptions 

concentrate and do not run after the objects of your senses 

practice diligently 

be determined not to let your days and months pass by wastefully

Zen Master Guishan 

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